14+ Friendly Letter Examples & Templates

You can say that friendly letter writing is already obsolete but it cannot be denied that this means of communication is a noble and a timeless one. Having the ability to write even the most basic friendly letter is a skill that everyone and anyone should at least know. It is a good foundation of a proper and effective communication.

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In case you plan on sending friendly letters to your beloved family and friends for the first time, you are at the right place to know how to write one. You can also send one in a short span of time as we have also provided you friendly letter templates that can help you jumpstart your friendly letter writing.

Elements of a Friendly Letter

Here are the elements of a basic friendly letter that even a beginner can easily master.

The Heading: The heading includes the address of the receiver and this is also written line by line. The last line contains the date of when the letter was written. If you are using a pre-addressed stationery, you can fill out the blank space intended for just the date.

The Greeting: Even if you are writing a friendly letter which is also called an informal and personal letter, you can still write both formal and informal greetings. The greeting always ends with a comma and in cases when you send friendly letters to people you have close relationships with, you can end with an exclamation point. Here are some examples: Dear Uncle Felix, Dear Mr. Rivera (formal), or Hi Lisa!, Greetings! (informal).

The Body: The body is the main text of your friendly letter. This is where you write down the message you want to deliver to the receiver of your friendly letter. If you have no idea what to write in the letter, here are some ideas you can get inspiration from.

The Complimentary Close: This is the element of your friendly letter where you are meant to close your letter. It usually comes in one to two words like Sincerely yours or Yours truly, and because it is a friendly letter, you can say Lovingly yours, Best wishes, and Best regards. This element should be aligned with the heading and must end with a comma.

The Signature Line: Compared to writing a formal letter, you need not to write your name in print and in capital letters for this part of your friendly letter. You can either write your name or your signature. You can also use your nickname or the receiver’s pet name for you.

Simple Friendly Letter Format Template

Standard Friendly Letter Format

Steps in Writing a Friendly Letter

Writing a friendly letter is easy but you must still know the steps on how to write one in order to communicate effectively.

Step 1. State your address in the heading part:

Even when reaching out to your closest friend, you must always state your address at the heading part of your friendly letter which may include your street address, city, country, and zip code. This is usually done just in case you have already changed address and your friend has no idea about it.

Step 2. Mention the date right below the heading:

Right after stating your address, you should then mention the date of when you have written your friendly letter. It is also suggested that you follow the format which starts with the month, followed by the day, and then, of course, the year.

Step 3. Begin the body of your letter with a salutation:

Never forget to begin the main part of your friendly letter with a salutation. This usually starts with Dear or even Hi followed by the name of the receiver of your friendly letter. Right after completing this, you should then add a comma at the end, or an exclamation mark in some cases.

Step 4. Write the main part of your friendly letter:

The main part, or the body, of your friendly letter, is where you are going to write the message you want to deliver to the receiver of your message. While you are to free to do this in however way you want, it is still suggested that you break down the body of the letter into paragraphs for easy comprehension.

Step 5. Conclude the letter with a complimentary close:

After having finally written the body of your friendly letter, you should conclude your letter with a complimentary close to let your readers know they have reached the end of the letter. It usually goes with saying Thank you, Sincerely yours, and etc. Like the salutation, end it with a comma.

Step 6. Write down your signature:

This is the part where you are going to sign your letter to indicate that you are the sender of the friendly letter. This part can be written in either blue or black ink pen. Unlike a formal letter, you may not write your full name in print. Your first name or nickname will be enough depending on the relationship you have with the receiver of your letter.

Optional Step. Include a Postscript:

You can always add details, such as a playful joke, in your friendly letter at the very bottom part of your paper. You can indicate a “P.S.” followed by your message. You should keep this short or else, you’re better off rewriting your letter or creating another one where you can include your long postscript.

Tips on Writing a Friendly Letter

Here are some tips you can follow in order to create an effective and enjoyable friendly letter to read.

Observe a uniform tone all throughout your friendly letter. If you have started writing in a very personal tone at the beginning of your letter, you must also keep such tone until the very end to keep the recipient hooked to your message.

Avoid being too formal. You are writing a friendly letter, right? Friendly letters are also called informal letters or personal letters. The purpose of writing one is to communicate with someone you are close with on a very personal level so ditch being formal and stay friendly.

Just be yourself when writing a friendly letter. Do not act like someone you are not because you will not be recognized by the receiver in that case. You can share your unforgettable experiences, ask for advice, or even congratulate him or her for an achievement.

Even if you are writing a friendly letter to someone you have a very close relationship with, do not forget to follow the basic guidelines for writing which includes following care and thoughtfulness in choosing your words to write. Keep in mind the there is always a possibility of miscommunication and who knows? Your poorly-written friendly letter might cause a misunderstanding.

Types of Friendly Letters

There are various types of friendly letters you can write depending on your purpose and relationship with the intended receiver. Here are some common types of friendly letters:

Congratulations Letter: The purpose of this type of friendly letter is to congratulate your friend or relative for his or her achievements.

Letter of Condolence: Through this letter, you can express your sympathy to a friend or relative who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

Thank you Letter: This letter can be used to express your appreciation for a favor done by a relative or friend.

Letter of Invitation: This type of letter can be formal or informal. This is used to request the presence of your friend or relative to attend an event or even just a visit.

Love Letter: A love letter is used to express your romantic feelings towards someone you have feelings for.

“Thinking of You” Letter: Sending this type of letter can be a simple gesture to let your relative or friend know that he or she is in your thoughts.

Friendly Letter FAQs

What is a friendly letter?

A friendly letter is a type of letter that is written and sent to people you have a close relationship with such as your family, friends, and anyone whom you share a close-knit relationship with. However, friendly letters are not exclusively sent to your friends alone, as it could be to anyone you are associated with. Friendly letters are also called informal letters or personal letters because these type of letters do not follow strict rules in order for you to write and send one.

What is the importance of a friendly letter?

Before technology had taken over our means of communication, there was a time when people communicated solely through letters. The friendly letters of that time created more relationships with a solid foundation that emails, chat, and text messages of this era can never match.

Coming up with a friendly letter can be fairly easy but this does not mean you should not make an effort to get acquainted with the basic elements and steps on how to create one. We hope that this article has been of great help for you and that the friendly letter templates we have provided will be put to great use.